Ambigram tattoo designs are unique in that they stay on the message no matter how you look at them. Rotational ambigrams are sayings or words that through lettering art can be read when right side-up and upside down. These ambigram are legible no matter how you look at them because they are lettered a certain way. Asymmetrical ambigrams actually read something different that is, in fact, a word, but a different word than from the one read right side up. For example, it might read Johnny right side up and Yolanda upside down. This style of ambigram tattoo design works with names, words or phrases. It can also incorporate different styles, shapes and fonts.
Like many different styles of tattoos, there are stars and celebrities who sport this unique design. Star Trek and Reading Rainbow star LeVar Burton has one reading LeVar with Kunta as the opposite side on his upper right arm. One of the stars of Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria, has one as well.
These ambigram tattoo designs have been growing in popularity since 2004. The tattoos became popular requests in tattoo shops around the United States. Hundreds of people are getting these tattoos every day, and if you have not seen one yet it is only a matter of time. Despite the rising number of people getting these designs you can still find something new for your own ambigram.
If your tattoo artist does not have any designs on hand that you want, you can look online for ambigram tattoo designs and ambigram generators. With a generator, you can put in the words, phrases or names you want and the program will create an ambigram. If you follow this method be sure the end result is exactly what you want before getting the tattoo.
Anyone can get an ambigram tattoo design and say pretty much anything they want to convey. There is no limit to the number of letters you can have in your ambigram. You can as many words or phrases you want as long as you have the physical space to place them. Be sure you have space in the area where you want the tattoo and bear in mind that between four and nine letters are usually what is recommended.
There some letters you might want to avoid using for a symmetrical ambigrams such as Q, U, W, V and Z. The reason is these letters are hard to twist and scrunch into rotational ambigrams. And when you are working with asymmetrical ambigrams that say one thing when looked at face up and something different when seen face down it should be remembered that choosing two words, phrases, or names that are similar in length and number of letters is best as well as avoiding the same letters as with the other type of ambigram design.